CVE-2008-5790 in Competitions
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in the Recly!Competitions (com_competitions) component 1.0 for Joomla! allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the (1) GLOBALS[mosConfig_absolute_path] parameter to (a) add.php and (b) competitions.php in includes/competitions/, and the (2) mosConfig_absolute_path parameter to (c) includes/settings/settings.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-5790 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting the Recly platforms. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the component's handling of configuration parameters, creating an avenue for remote code execution attacks. The flaw specifically targets the GLOBALS[mosConfig_absolute_path] parameter and mosConfig_absolute_path parameter, which are utilized to construct file paths within the application's include mechanisms. These parameters are intended to define the absolute path to the Joomla! installation directory but become exploitable when user-controllable input is directly incorporated into file inclusion operations without adequate sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the component's insecure coding practices where the application fails to validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in file inclusion contexts. When attackers manipulate the GLOBALS[mosConfig_absolute_path] or mosConfig_absolute_path parameters through the affected scripts add.php, competitions.php, and settings.php, they can inject malicious URLs that get processed by the PHP include mechanism. This creates a remote file inclusion condition where arbitrary PHP code can be executed on the target server, as the application treats the injected URL as a legitimate file path and attempts to include and execute the contents from remote locations. The vulnerability exists in the includes/competitions/ directory and settings.php file, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core component functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for affected Joomla ecosystem where the Recly!Competitions component is installed, with no authentication required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing web applications. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the vulnerable component until a patch is applied, implementing input validation and sanitization measures, and configuring proper web application firewalls to block malicious requests. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of the Recly security updates. Additional protective measures include restricting file inclusion operations to predefined safe paths, implementing proper parameter validation, and conducting regular security audits of third-party components. System administrators should also monitor for suspicious file inclusion patterns and implement intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing remote code execution attacks in web applications.